London Councils has appointed a new Chair and refreshed its Executive Committee after its Annual General Meeting, setting the tone for the organisation’s strategic direction for the year ahead.
The cross-party body, which represents all 32 London boroughs alongside the City of London Corporation, plays a central role in shaping policy and collaboration across England’s capital. The leadership team, made up of borough leaders and directly elected mayors, was formally elected by London’s local authority leadership at the AGM.
The newly announced Executive Committee reflects a broad political mix, with responsibilities spanning finance, housing, transport, public service reform and more. The appointments are as follows:
- Chair and Executive Member for Finance and Devolution – Cllr Stephen Cowan
- Deputy Chair and Executive Member for Growth, Economy, Skills and Employment – Cllr Kam Rai
- Vice Chairs – Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Mayor Zoë Garbett, Cllr Gareth Roberts, Deputy Chris Hayward
- Executive Member for Housing and Homelessness – Cllr Anthony Okereke
- Executive Member for Transport and Environment (TEC) – Cllr Paul Osborn
- Executive Member for Children and Education – Cllr Una O’Halloran
- Executive Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Regeneration – Mayor Jason Perry
- Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Prevention – Cllr Paul Swaddle OBE
- Executive Member for Community Safety, Cohesion and Neighbourhoods – Mayor Liam Shrivastava
- Executive Member for Public Service Reform, Technology, Data and Innovation – Cllr Shantanu Rajawat
Speaking following his appointment, Cllr Stephen Cowan emphasised the need for cross-party collaboration to tackle the capital’s challenges:
“Londoners face enormous challenges. They have a right to expect all elected representatives of London local government, from across the different political parties, to work together to find the solutions that rise to those challenges. Today, that was exactly what all of us determined to do.
“It is an honour to have been voted to chair London Councils and, along with my colleagues, to have the chance to serve."
The remarks underline the importance of unity across boroughs at a time when London faces ongoing pressures in housing, public services, infrastructure investment and economic recovery.
Attention now turns to the London Councils’ Leaders’ Committee, which includes every borough leader and directly elected mayor. The committee is scheduled to meet on 21 July, where it is expected to begin shaping the organisation’s strategic priorities for the months ahead.
Key areas likely to dominate discussions include:
- Devolution and local government finance reform
- Housing delivery and homelessness pressures
- Skills, employment and economic growth
- Public service transformation and digital innovation
For professionals across local government, the NHS, and wider public services, the newly appointed Executive Committee signals the direction of travel for collaboration in London. With portfolios covering everything from transport and regeneration to health and data innovation, leadership decisions taken by London Councils often influence policy thinking and operational priorities across the wider UK public sector.
The appointment of executive leads for technology, data and innovation, alongside public service reform, reflects the growing importance of digital transformation – an issue that continues to resonate with councils nationwide.
Image credit: iStock
